The Opera Pod
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Ed Gardner OBE – Conductor, Principal Conductor - London Philharmonic Orchestra & the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From jumping in as a rehearsal pianist at the Salzburg Festival, through taking on ENO at the age of thirty-one, and onto the legacy of the LPO , Ed G...
Lou Platt – Psychotherapist & Artist Wellbeing Practitioner
31 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How can we find balance when our schedules can be so punishing? How can we find meaning in our work in a world that celebrates immediate success? An...
Nadine Benjamin MBE – Lyric Soprano, Mentor, Mind Coach, Certified High Performance & Founder of Everybody Can!
24 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when the career you have is not the one that you really want? Do you stay and climb the ladder, or do you take a risk and step into your...
Kathleen Alder, Founding Director - WildKat PR
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hailing from the German equivalent of the Von Trapp family with plans to be a solo violinist, Kathleen's career took an unexpected pivot when she was ...
Tracy Cox – Singer, Artist, Activist
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been judged on your appearance? Or been on the receiving end of well-intentioned advice that - in fact - turned out to be not that hel...
Kate Valentine – Soprano, Voice Care Specialist & Founder of Valentine Voice Care
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For over a decade, Kate was a busy lead Soprano singing across UK opera houses and around the world. However, some worrying panic attacks and serious ...
Allyson Devenish – Artistic Director, Music Director, Coach, Recitalist & Teacher
06 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Allyson was surrounded by music in Ottawa as she grew up - from jazz to classical and calypso - and playing the piano was an intrinsic part of her chi...
Anna-Marie Sullivan – Actor
16 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Leaving home at just sixteen to get a place at a London drama school, Anna-Marie needed to support herself, so walking around the Royal Opera House sh...
Mark S Doss – Bass Baritone
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of Mark's earliest performing experiences was actually on stage for the Metropolitan Opera in Aida as a supernumerary, or as others might say, an ...
Kate Freston-Davy - Head of Stage Management, Opera North
02 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kate remembers both music and theatre from her Methodist church and her local amateur dramatic society, where many of her family took roles on the sta...
Roderick Cox – Conductor
25 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brought up by his single mom to a musical, church-going family, Roderick's first instrument – a snare drum – arrived in its JC Penney cardboard bo...
Andrea Baker - Mezzo Soprano
18 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Classical, Jazz, Funk and R&B were all embraced in Andrea's Massachusetts household growing up, and with music already very much in the family, choosi...
Breanna Sinclairé – Lyric Soprano
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Transgender opera singer Breanna Sinclairé felt trapped in the Tenor repertoire where she had never felt at ease, and finally told her teachers that ...
Anna Patalong – Soprano, ISM Ambassador, Founder of Swap'ra & Development Consultant at BYO
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As a young girl, Anna ensured her playdates were only at houses with pianos, until her parents finally gave in and bought one just for her. Unaware th...
Kit Withnail - Associate Production Manager in Opera Broadcast at the Royal Opera House
28 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After a car journey listening to Carmen tapes on repeat, on to failing his Grade 8 flute three times (despite the efforts of Mr House, his peripatetic...
Toria Banks - director, writer, dramaturg, teacher, & co-founder of HERA
21 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Toria recalls dancing around her living room to Simon and Garfunkel, and insisting on learning to play the piano - with no urging from her parents. Cr...
Damien Geter – Bass-Baritone, Conductor, Composer & MD
14 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Damien grew up with his mom singing around the house, and Diana Ross and The Pointer Sisters on the record player, with a bit of Bach and Tchaikovsky ...
Robyn Allegra Parton – Soprano
07 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As a young girl, Robyn constantly played both Mariah Carey and Maria Callas on tape and CD, so her mum signed her up for a local children's choir whe...
Nicky Spence - Tenor
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nicky began his musical journey in Dumfries in Scotland, staying late after school singing Elaine Paige at pitch and tinkling on the piano until the c...
Dane Lam - Conductor
05 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dane Lam grew up in sunny Brisbane, and recalls his grandmother playing piano at family gatherings, and started learning himself from a young age. Wit...
Claire Barnett-Jones - Mezzo-Soprano
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Claire began her musical journey at the age of three playing and singing the Angel Gabriel, and she was immediately hooked. Taking up different instru...
Cynthia de la Rosa – Hair, wigs & makeup designer
15 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cynthia was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the United States, and as a young girl she loved dressing up her Barbie dolls and recording mi...
Paula Murrihy – Mezzo
08 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Paula grew up with traditional Irish Music in County Kerry, but despite immersing herself in music and performance at the National Folk Theatre of Ire...
Lila Palmer - Librettist & Producer
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Ango-American Librettist & Producer Lila Palmer takes us to rural Vermont and to beautifully vivid moments of music in her childhood, like crouchi...
Aaron Blake - Tenor
24 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Aaron Blake grew up in Palos Verdes in California, where his parents indulged him in violin lessons early on in Kindergarten, even if it was just for ...
Michael Volpe OBE - Executive Director
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Growing up as an Italian boy in London, Michael Volpe listened to everything from Mario Lanza to prog Rock. Despite having very little money, his m...
Eleazar Rodríguez - Tenor
10 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Growing up in Piedras Negras on the Mexican border with the United States, Eleazar first experienced opera from a recording his father borrowed of T...
Jane Davidson – Director of Outreach & Education
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jane was captivated by her first opera at the age of eight, and realising she loved story-telling in all different forms, went on to study English and...
Harry Bicket - Conductor
27 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Growing up in Liverpool, Harry drove his artist mother mad playing The Beatles and took to the piano, but thought of it as more of a hobby than anythi...
Ruth Mulholland - Company Manager
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ruth was brought up in Ireland by her dancer mother and singer and actor father, to a backdrop of golden era Hollywood musicals with some Beatles thro...
Matthew Rose - Bass
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew Rose started studying music at school in West Sussex before going on to study at University in Canterbury, where he worked with Benjamin Luxon...
Fiona Maddocks – Critic and Author
06 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fiona Maddocks played music as a young girl at the Royal College of Music on Saturdays, but after a frightening experience at a Masterclass with Nadia...
Duncan Rock - Baritone
29 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Born in Scotland and brought up on the West Coast of Australia, Duncan was set to become a lawyer, until his interest in music led him to London to st...
Lou Platt – Artist Wellbeing Practitioner
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Psychotherapist and artist wellbeing practitioner Lou Platt was brought up by her Avon Lady mother and her nuclear engineer father, who also created s...
Nicola Candlish CEO
15 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nicola began music at school with the standard issue recorder, but soon took it upon herself to put down a deposit on a saxophone, much to the horror ...
Frances Marshall - photographer & branding expert
08 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Frances Marshall began learning the piano at five years old, but was also captivated by copies of Vanity Fair around her house, which founded her love...
Christine Chibnall – Director of Planning
01 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Taken to galleries, theatres and the opera by her parents, Christine Chibnall's love for music was also nurtured at South Hampstead High School for gi...
Angel Blue – Soprano
25 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Multi award-winning soprano Angel Blue is known for the beautiful timbre of her voice and her captivating stage presence. Gracing many of the world's ...
Jessica Cottis - Conductor
18 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Picking out notes on the piano with her mother before she could even talk, Jessica started her music training young and was on the path to becoming a...
Julian Perkins – Conductor & keyboard player
11 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Julian began his life surrounded by music with his siblings, and was sent away to music courses by his parents, where he developed a real need to make...
Gweneth Ann Rand - Soprano
04 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At four and a half years old, perched on cushions at The Royal Opera House in London, Gweneth Ann Rand was captivated, and declared she wanted to beco...
Oliver Mears - Director of Opera
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Director of Opera at the Royal Opera House in London, and award-winning director in his own right, Oliver Mears talks to Nina Brazier about the inf...
Lucia Lucas - baritone
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The American-born, German-based Baritone chose the moment carefully, knowing it could be the end of an operatic career. With an impeccably made-up fac...
Olivia Brown - managing director
11 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Managing Director of WildKat PR Olivia Brown chats to Nina Brazier about her journey to the top of the music PR industry, and offers insight for creat...
Cordelia Lynn - librettist
04 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Living in Moscow at five years old, Cordelia Lynn was on the path to becoming a fine concert pianist. As a teenager back in the UK, her passion for ...
John Liddell - Head of Costume
28 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
John Liddell, Head of Costume at Scottish Opera for 35 years, initially studied law, before becoming a heavy metal musician in the 60s. After making s...
Lucia Ronchetti - composer and artistic director
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Multi award winning Composer and Artistic Director of the Biennale Musica in Venice, Lucia Ronchetti chats with Nina about experiencing music for the ...
James Clutton - chief executive and director
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Chief Executive and Director of Opera at Opera Holland Park in London, James Clutton, chats openly about his 60s musical influences, early school trip...
Sarah Playfair - Casting Director
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of Britain's leading casting directors, Sarah Playfair chats through her formative years - from running away from her boarding school to catch Sat...
Phillip Venables - composer
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Multi award-winning composer Philip chats with host Nina Brazier about how he works with his collaborators, how he creates work with such incredible v...
Fflur Wyn - Soprano
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Multi award-winning Welsh soprano Fflur Wyn talks to Nina Brazier about her earliest performance at the age of three, growing up under the spotlight o...
Rachael Hewer - director
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Young director Rachael chats with Nina Brazier about her extraordinary online sensation, Virtual Opera's digital creation of L'enfant et les Sortilegè...
Aurore Aubouin - Artistic Production Manager
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Aurore talks openly with Nina Brazier about her childhood in a small town in central France, where her mother was determined to give her daughters the...
Tim Claydon - choreographer and movement director
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Claydon chats with Nina Brazier about the series of happy accidents that have forged his career, from his early start as a classical dancer, to fl...
Leslie Travers - set and costume designer
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Leslie Travers shares his journey from finding inspiration as a young, working-class Hartlepool boy in his local library, to becoming an international...
Sue Willmington - costume designer
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
British costume designer Sue Willmington chats with Nina Brazier about her early love of music and fabric, being tested to her limit on her first job,...
Director Christopher Alden
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Multi award-winning opera director Christopher Alden chats with Nina Brazier about his early obsession with Broadway musicals through the seminal teen...
Gillian Keith and Tom Randle
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Real life opera couple soprano Gillian Keith and Tenor and composer Tom Randle reveal the unexpected twists and the life-changing phone calls that hav...
Your backstage pass to the world of opera
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Director Nina Brazier reveals some of the big names in opera who will be joining her on The Opera Pod. Get your access all areas pass to find out more...